England selection role for Fraser

Angus Fraser is to join a new three-man England selection panel at the start of next month.

Former Test seamer Fraser will work alongside national selector James Whitaker and England's limited-overs coach Ashley Giles.

The Middlesex director of cricket's first task in his new role will be to help pick the limited-overs and Test squads against Sri Lanka next summer.

Whitaker is delighted to have 48-year-old Fraser as a new colleague.

The national selector said: "Gus has been heavily involved in cricket for many years as a player and an administrator.

"He brings integrity and the wealth of knowledge that we will need as we look to identify the players across all formats who can thrive in the international environment."

Andy Flower will no longer be part of the selection panel, having previously been co-opted into the role as England's team director and agreed to stay on temporarily even after his resignation at the end of last month.

Flower's decision to step down as team director was the first of two bombshells in the aftermath of England's 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia this winter.

Two weeks ago, England announced the controversial axing of their all-time record runscorer Kevin Pietersen from all future plans.

The involvement of Fraser marks an early step into that future, and it is a venture the man himself is relishing.

Fraser, whose role at Middlesex will be unaffected, said: "I am chuffed to be involved and am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.

"As a player, I always took great pride in representing England and I am delighted to be given another chance to contribute."

Fraser, who took 177 wickets in 46 Tests, is optimistic of a revival in England's fortunes after their deeply disappointing winter so far.

"Despite the doom and gloom after this winter's Ashes, I believe it's a really exciting time to be involved in the England set-up," he added.

"There is a real chance to create something, and there are a lot of talented young cricketers within the county game."